A Suisse dairy company called Eurolactis is already marketing the milk in Europe.

They sell atomised, freeze-dried and fresh milk - the latter of which is only available in Italy at the moment - as well as cosmetics and soaps which are reportedly good for skin conditions such as eczema.

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Adults in good health can enjoy donkey’s milk as a hypo-allergenic substitute for cow’s milk."

Dr Massimo Caliendo, nutritional biologist, writes on the Eurolactis site: "One of the most important uses of donkey’s milk is in paediatrics, specifically for cases of allergies and intolerance.

"It is well-known that the protein in cow’s milk can be an allergen for children. If mother’s milk is not available, donkey’s milk comes into its own as an extremely beneficial and important source of food, particularly for cases of multiple food allergies and poor absorption."

He added that donkey's milk is also a great supplement for sports people.

"It can improve work rate and performance," he wrote. "In difficult situations such as growth problems, poor diet, convalescence, periods of transition such as adolescence or the menopause or for older people, dietary supplementation based on donkey’s milk helps the body to cope during critical phases.

"Finally, adults in good health can enjoy donkey’s milk as a hypo-allergenic substitute for cow’s milk."